Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Over-qualification rates by citizenship was 20.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
20.7%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
17th
of 45 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2012
All-time low
15.6%
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria, 2000–2025

05101520252000201220252000: 15.6 Percentage2001: 16.3 Percentage2002: 17.1 Percentage2003: 18.7 Percentage2004: 19.3 Percentage2005: 18.8 Percentage2006: 21.2 Percentage2007: 20.4 Percentage2008: 20.3 Percentage2009: 20.5 Percentage2010: 21.1 Percentage2011: 23.1 Percentage2012: 24.1 Percentage2013: 23.7 Percentage2014: 23.5 Percentage2015: 23.4 Percentage2016: 22.3 Percentage2017: 23.6 Percentage2018: 23.6 Percentage2019: 22.7 Percentage2020: 21.6 Percentage2021: 20.3 Percentage2022: 21.1 Percentage2023: 21.3 Percentage2024: 20.8 Percentage2025: 20.7 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria is 20.7%, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria peaked at 24.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 15.6%, in 2000.

That places Bulgaria 17th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria, 2000 to 2025.
Year Percentage Change
2000 15.6% —
2001 16.3% +4.5%
2002 17.1% +4.9%
2003 18.7% +9.4%
2004 19.3% +3.2%
2005 18.8% -2.6%
2006 21.2% +12.8%
2007 20.4% -3.8%
2008 20.3% -0.5%
2009 20.5% +1.0%
2010 21.1% +2.9%
2011 23.1% +9.5%
2012 24.1% +4.3%
2013 23.7% -1.7%
2014 23.5% -0.8%
2015 23.4% -0.4%
2016 22.3% -4.7%
2017 23.6% +5.8%
2018 23.6% +0.0%
2019 22.7% -3.8%
2020 21.6% -4.8%
2021 20.3% -6.0%
2022 21.1% +3.9%
2023 21.3% +0.9%
2024 20.8% -2.3%
2025 20.7% -0.5%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 20.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.1%, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 20.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 20.0%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.8% 15.6% 21.2% 10
2010s 23.1% 21.1% 24.1% 10
2020s 21.0% 20.3% 21.6% 6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 14 Malta 21.3% compare
  2. 15 Slovakia 20.9% compare
  3. 15 Slovakia 20.9% compare
  4. 17 Latvia 20.7% compare
  5. 17 Latvia 20.7% compare
  6. 20 Italy 20.6% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria?
Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria was 20.7% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest over-qualification rates by citizenship recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2012.
What is the lowest over-qualification rates by citizenship recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 15.6% in 2000.
How does Bulgaria rank for over-qualification rates by citizenship?
Bulgaria ranks 17th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is over-qualification rates by citizenship rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Over-qualification rates by citizenship. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/over-qualification-rates-by-citizenship/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Over-qualification rates by citizenship
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,261 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed